Bulls show some growing pains

2012-03-11 12:28

Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer

Cape Town - Three times the champions of Super Rugby, the rebuilding Bulls were served a reminder this weekend that 2012 will be no cakewalk as they surrendered their unbeaten record in a first encounter with overseas opposition.

At least one neutral South African, the Springbok flank legend Rob Louw, noted in a tweet following their 29-23 Loftus reverse to the Blues on Saturday that the experience and calmness brought by such characters as Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez was clearly missed on a night when the Bulls’ composure and patience badly let them down more than anything else.

He felt that this might become even more apparent when the Bulls tackle their overseas leg, although that is a little further up the drag and they have a bye weekend now to chew on their first loss in three starts.

Just a little worryingly, considering that these are still early days indeed, South African teams have already lost at home to two New Zealand opponents; this result follows the Lions falling in Johannesburg a week earlier 30-28 to the Hurricanes.

Now the only remaining unbeaten SA outfit, the Stormers can at least claim to have knocked over the Hurricanes themselves earlier at Newlands, but it was a ragged, mostly forgettable old affair.

But with the help of their automatic four bye points this weekend, the Capetonians do sit third on the overall table behind the Reds and Highlanders (each with three wins from three), and with a game in hand on them.

And they will not necessarily feel too overawed by entertaining Keven Mealamu and company on Friday night, after an ordinary encounter on the Highveld where the Blues simply made full use of opportunities that came their way -- even as the Bulls often held an edge in both possession and territory.

Certainly the discipline of the Stormers, who generally preserve their own ball more jealously than the Bulls did in this setback and have renowned defensive organisation, ought to mean that the Blues are “gifted” fewer points than they got at Loftus.

Still, this was a mini-wakeup call for the Bulls -- and perhaps also the domestic cause as a whole -- as they suffered a pronounced turnaround from their crushing victory against derby rivals the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein just a week earlier.

It demonstrated that the former champions, for all their budding new areas of potential, will experience some growing pains along the road to achieving their goal of a sparkling fresh chapter after the exit of so many influential figures last year.

On the positive side, coach Frans Ludeke will take some comfort from his charges showing last-ditch resolve to salvage a losing bonus point and, simultaneously, showing some genuinely exciting thrust out wide as they snapped out of their prior inability to get consistently over the gain-line.

Also, usually highly influential flyhalf Morne Steyn is unlikely to have such an erratic game in a while, both from a place-kicking and general-play perspective; he was at least partly responsible for the soft concession of the first try to the Blues, which got their tails up in a big way.

Meanwhile in Durban there was cause for overdue good cheer among Sharks supporters because they finally kick-started their own campaign with a bonus-point win against the Lions – remember that five-point hauls don’t exactly grow on trees in local derbies.

Whilst the Lions were beset with injury-enforced disruptions in the week’s lead-up to the game and then again much closer to kick-off on Saturday, and played with commendable courage under the circumstances, there was also enough evidence to suggest that the Durban giant is indeed beginning to stir.

The return of Willem Alberts made a big difference to their forward grunt, where Bismarck du Plessis similarly produced a game of great endeavour and awesome physicality, and with Tim Whitehead showing some welcome deft touches at No 12 just outside the cerebral Pat Lambie, the Sharks could be on the “up” just in time for Saturday’s big visit of the defending champion Reds.

The Cheetahs, of course, are likely to be livid with the performance of referee Keith Brown in their gut-wrenching, last-kick reverse to Jake White’s Brumbies in Canberra, not without reason suspecting that there is a new “Bryce” on the officialdom block!*This week’s fixtures (home teams first, all kick-offs in SA times):

Comments

what a great saturday, Sharks win with a bonus point and Bulls lose. Never seen Steyn kick so badly!!!

jordaanjean - 2012-03-11 18:16

so you find joy in another South African team losing.. douche..

Michael - 2012-03-11 20:11

Of course i do, why would i support the Bulls when a win for them is bad for the Sharks...douche

Sean - 2012-03-11 13:11

Was what happened yesterday at Loftus a taste of what's to come in the TriNations/Four Nations later this year when the Boks play against the All Blacks?Hope not!
Some folks were boasting here on News24 about making the Springbok Team all come from THE BULLS TEAM.So what now then with that humble pie and bitter pill for the Bulls,how is that gonna work if you get hammered by a New Zealand outfit like the Blues.
Lets see which SA super 15 team actually beats a New Zealand team home or away first before you start your gloating.

Bomb - 2012-03-11 14:39

Well you know how its going to work. Heyneke will definitely favour Bulls players, even though he says he wont. Its clear that the bulk of Springbok players at THIS stage should come from the Stormers and Sharks based on results and performance. I just hope he starts pulling in some new blood to build for the future.

Bielie - 2012-03-11 22:24

Bomb, don't you think it's a bit early to start accusing Meyer of bias? How about you wait until the first team he selects has actually played a test?
Just a thought. Use it, don't use it...

Nzbro - 2012-03-12 09:22

agree with you there sean. Have you seen the new talent that has come to the fore in the nz teams lately especially in the No 10 position and No 9. Its gong to be difficult to choose who should get a AB jersey come july with so many to choose from now. NZ teams are doing very well indeed just on their individual player performances

Stormers had given the Hurricanes a thumping in the 1st round.. Are they not a Kiwi side??

Claude - 2012-03-11 13:29

Re: The comment about the Referee in the Cheetahs game - I can't comment as I did not see the game but it is about time that all Referees got payed a basic minimum and the balance was an allotment made by an independent panel who watch and review the game.

Gerald - 2012-03-11 14:46

Sorry to say but the Bulls were totally out-muscled by the Blues who appeared stronger, fitter and more passionate for the win.

Saffa - So now that the Bulls loose a game you blame the Ref...Next lost coming you can maybe consider blaming the TV referee or so, eventually you will run out of excuses. Wonder what you said when the Sharks were beaten by the Bulls the claim there first title in the 84 minute of the final? Or what happend when the Bulls scored a try against the Crusaders from a forward pass after the final whistle went to eventuall beat the Stormers in the final Grow up!!!

hello again saffa ! did you enjoy your summer? I see you singing that same ole tune again
"playing against 16 was." you may have forgotten the blues had one man sin binned for 10 minutes & still the Blues truimphed! Accept it, the bulls lost fair & square and before you think otherwise I have to say that Im a crusader fan & my team is not doing well at all so good on the blues for beating the Bulls in their own backyard.Thats gotta hurt aye!

Kevin - 2012-03-11 16:19

When you don't have mark lawrence blowing in your favour you have to actually play Rugby. As far as I am concerned the Bulls won two games they never deserved to win . And to think lawrence is still reffing

Rene - 2012-03-11 17:10

@Kevin, what an idiotic thing to say! You're a sad and bitter character! ML did not ref any of the Bulls games this year, Kaplan tried his utmost to keep the Sharks in the 1st game. Get a pair of glasses, your eye sight is on the blink!

Johan - 2012-03-11 17:24

Gee man, they still scored 3 tries to 2 and they lost because Morne for once lost his plot! Were you watching the game or just relishing the Bulls that the Bulls lost!